Career Explorer Healthcare support
Human edge, growing
Dental assistants
Perform limited clinical duties under the direction of a dentist. Clinical duties may include equipment preparation and sterilization, preparing patients for treatment, assisting the dentist during treatment, and providing patients with instructions for oral healthcare procedures. May perform administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes.
Among the most resilient careers: more resilient than 97% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is low (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it low), and US jobs are projected to change by +7.4% by 2035, faster than average. The work leans on emotional intelligence and physical dexterity.
AI struggles with much of this work, and US employers are expected to hire more people into it than average.
- Median pay (2025)
- $48,070
- Job growth to 2035
- +7.4%
- Openings a year
- 53,000
- People doing it (2025)
- 389,000
- Usual route in
- College certificate
Where people already use AI for this work
- Explain medical information to patients or family members
- Execute financial transactions
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Maintain health or medical records
- Assist healthcare practitioners during medical procedures
- Fabricate medical devices
What the work looks like
- Prepare patient, sterilize or disinfect instruments, set up instrument trays, prepare materials, or assist dentist during dental procedures.
- Record treatment information in patient records.
- Assist dentist in management of medical or dental emergencies.
- Order and monitor dental supplies and equipment inventory.
- Expose dental diagnostic x-rays.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Massage therapistsHuman edge, growing, Index 98, +15.3%
- Home health and personal care aidesHuman edge, growing, Index 99, +18.1%
- Medical equipment preparersHuman edge, growing, Index 99, +10.8%
- Physical therapist assistantsHuman edge, growing, Index 99, +23.0%
Also known as: Certified Dental Assistant (CDA), Dental Assistant (DA), Expanded Duty Dental Assistant (EDDA), Registered Dental Assistant (RDA), Certified Registered Dental Assistant, Expanded Dental Assistant, Expanded Functions Dental Assistant (EFDA), Oral Surgery Assistant.
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.